Bar Association demands permanent HC bench at Baripada

Baripada, Dec 9 (UNI) The Mayurbhanj District Bar Association today demanded setting up of a permanent bench of Orissa High Court at Baripada.

The MDBA in a meeting passed a resolution which said the existing infrastructure at Baripada could house a permanent bench of the High Court which would not cost any extra burden on the state exchequer.

The MDBA said if the government failed to concede its demand then it would be forced to launch a bigger movement in this remote tribal areas of the district.

Meanwhile, the MDBA formed a steering committee, which would take up the matter with the Supreme Court, Orissa High Court and the Chief Minister on the demand.

Presiding over the meeting, Mayurbhanj District Bar Association president Bijan Das said the last king of Bhanja dynasty, Pratap Chandra Bhanj Deo, had established a High Court at Baripada on April 10, 1933 and appointed P K Sen, an eminent legal luminary of the country, as its first Chief Justice and many judges.

Mr Das said later during Mayurbhanj's merger agreement signed between then king Pratap Chandra Bhanj Deo and the Government of India with Orissa, a clause was there for setting up of a bench of Orissa High court.

He criticised the government for violating the conditions of the merger agreement.